VIEWPOINTS: We all deserve to have healthy, smoke-free lives

The evidence against secondhand smoke is indisputable; the science is clear; the debate is over. Tobacco smoke is a public health hazard that costs us billions of dollars and more importantly, precious lives. (Stock.xchng)

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association and American Lung Association applaud efforts to make Birmingham a smoke-free city. We are proud that the city is taking leadership on this tough issue and fighting for the health of our community. A stronger policy means less death and disease; we can all agree that is a good thing.

Birmingham joins the chorus of municipalities to strengthen existing smoking laws to ensure equal protection for all employees. We commend the work of the Public Safety Committee, led by Councilman Johnathan Austin, to ensure that everyone who lives, works and plays in Birmingham has the right to breathe smoke-free air. We strongly encourage the members of the committee to remove any exceptions to this rule to protect all of Birmingham's workers and residents from secondhand smoke.

The evidence against secondhand smoke is indisputable; the science is clear; the debate is over. Tobacco smoke is a public health hazard that costs us billions of dollars and, more important, precious lives. This is not a matter of politics, philosophy or worldview; this is a matter of public health. These are the facts:

• Of the more than 7,000 chemicals in secondhand smoke, hundreds are toxic and approximately 70 are known to cause cancer.

• As reported by The Birmingham News, a 2011 study of Birmingham-area bars and restaurants discovered air pollution levels 37 times higher in venues that allowed smoking compared with those that did not.

• Scientific evidence indicates that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke," according to a recent U.S. Surgeon General report. Specifically, the study linked secondhand smoke to lung cancer, heart disease, acute respiratory effects, sudden infant death syndrome and other health problems.

• Secondhand smoke takes the lives of more than 800 nonsmoking Alabamians and more than 50,000 nonsmoking Americans.

• Smoke-free policies are the only effective way to protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke.

• The public wants this policy. A scientific poll of 600 voters released last August found that nearly four out of five Jefferson County voters support comprehensive smoke-free ordinances that include all workplaces, restaurants, and bars.

• There is precedent in Alabama for smoke-free policies: Fairfield, Fultondale and Midfield are among the many cities that have already passed strong smoke-free laws to protect their workers and residents.

Everyone -- black and white, young and old, patron and staff, conservative and liberal -- deserves the right to breathe clean, smoke-free air, with no exceptions. It is not right to decide who will be exposed to deadly tobacco smoke and who will not; we must protect everyone across the board. We hope the right to breathe smoke-free air will be adopted in Birmingham in the coming weeks.

From athletics to civil rights, Alabama has a long history of producing champions. The Birmingham City Council, led by Austin, is a team on the cusp of a major public health victory. Council members could be Birmingham's next great champions, if they pass this ordinance. We can have a cleaner and healthier city tomorrow, thanks to their leadership today.

Melanie R. Bridgeforth is government relations director for American Heart Association of Alabama.Email:melanie.bridgeforth@heart.org. Ashley Lyerly is director of advocacy for American Lung Association, Plains Gulf Region.Email:alyerly@breathehealthy.org. Kim Cochran is a community coordinator with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.Email:khcochran@att.net.